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Ness Walk, Inverness

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Inverness

Updated 7 October 2026 · 15 things to do

Pictured: Ness Walk

Inverness is the capital of the Highlands, a small, friendly city where the River Ness runs fast and clear through the middle on its short dash from loch to sea. It has a castle on a hill, church spires along the water and salmon fishermen standing thigh-deep within sight of the shops. It will not take you long to see.

That is the point. Inverness is a base, and what a base. Loch Ness begins a few miles upstream. The battlefield that ended the Jacobite dream lies just outside town. Dolphins leap in the firth, whisky is made over the hill and the mountains of the Cairngorms fill the southern horizon. Hire a car, pack a waterproof and go.

Don't miss

  1. 1Loch Ness
  2. 2Urquhart Castle
  3. 3Culloden Battlefield
  4. 4Clava Cairns
  5. 5Chanonry Point

In the city

A gentle half-day on foot, mostly beside the river.

  1. Inverness Castle

    Landmark

    Inverness Castle seen from across the River Ness
    Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A red sandstone castle stands on a bluff above the river, where fortresses have stood for the best part of a thousand years. The present one is Victorian, built as a courthouse and prison, and has been redeveloped as a visitor attraction telling the story of the Highlands. Even from outside it is worth the climb. The terrace has the best view in town, up the River Ness towards the hills, and a statue of Flora MacDonald gazes out beside you.

  2. The Ness Islands

    Nature

    The Ness Islands and the River Ness in Inverness
    Photo: dave conner, CC BY 2.0

    A short walk upstream from the centre, the river splits around a cluster of small wooded islands linked to each bank, and to each other, by Victorian suspension footbridges. Tall pines and beeches shade the paths, and the water rushes past on both sides. It makes a lovely circular walk of an hour or so along one bank and back down the other, past the cathedral. Look out for anglers, herons and the occasional seal.

  3. The Victorian Market

    Market

    A hall of the Victorian Market in Inverness
    Photo: Daniel Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A covered arcade in the heart of the city, rebuilt after a fire in the late 19th century, with a fine arched iron and timber roof. The old shopfronts house independent businesses selling gifts, jewellery, sweets and Highland souvenirs. The former fish hall has been turned into a food hall with local producers and places to eat. It is a good refuge on a wet day, of which Inverness has its share.

  4. Leakey's Bookshop

    Activity

    The interior of Leakey's Bookshop in Inverness
    Photo: LeamingtonBooks, CC BY-SA 4.0

    One of the most atmospheric second-hand bookshops in Britain, set in an 18th-century Gaelic church near the river. Books are stacked from floor to gallery, a spiral staircase leads upwards and a big wood-burning stove glows in the middle of the floor. There are old maps and prints to browse as well. Book lovers should allow an hour and room in the suitcase.

Loch Ness

Twenty-odd miles of deep, dark water and one very famous resident.

  1. Loch Ness

    Nature

    Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands
    Photo: Steven1991, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The most famous lake in the world is long, narrow and startlingly deep, holding more fresh water than all the lakes of England and Wales put together. Peat washed down from the hills makes it almost black, which has done no harm to the legend of the monster. Whether or not you believe in Nessie, the loch is magnificent, walled in by steep wooded hills. Boat cruises leave from the northern end near Inverness and from Fort Augustus in the south.

    Tip: The main road down the western shore is the busy one. The quieter road along the eastern side, through Dores and Foyers, is slower and prettier.

  2. Urquhart Castle

    Landmark

    The ruins of Urquhart Castle on the shore of Loch Ness
    Photo: Daniel Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The ruins of one of Scotland's largest medieval castles sit on a rocky headland jutting into Loch Ness near Drumnadrochit. It changed hands many times in the wars between Scots and English before being blown up in the 17th century to keep it from the Jacobites. Climb the surviving tower house for a sweeping view up and down the loch. It is the classic Loch Ness picture, and consequently very popular in summer.

    Tip: Arrive early or late in the day to avoid the coach parties, or come by boat on a loch cruise.

  3. Fort Augustus and the Caledonian Canal

    Day trip

    Locks on the Caledonian Canal at Fort Augustus
    Photo: Stuart Wilding, CC BY-SA 2.0

    At the southern tip of the loch, the village of Fort Augustus is built around a staircase of locks on the Caledonian Canal. Thomas Telford's great waterway links a chain of lochs to carry boats right across Scotland from coast to coast. Watching yachts and cruisers climb slowly through the lock flight, with a coffee or a pint in hand, is one of the Highlands' simplest pleasures. There are loch views from the pier beyond.

History on the doorstep

  1. Culloden Battlefield

    Landmark

    The battlefield at Culloden
    Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0

    On this bleak moor east of Inverness, on 16 April 1746, the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie was destroyed by government troops in under an hour. It was the last pitched battle fought on British soil, and it changed the Highlands for ever. The visitor centre tells both sides of the story with great care. Outside, flags mark the opposing lines, and simple stones bearing clan names stand over the mass graves. It is a sombre and powerful place.

  2. Clava Cairns

    Landmark

    The Bronze Age Clava Cairns near Inverness
    Photo: Daniel Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A mile or so from Culloden, in a quiet grove of trees, lies a Bronze Age cemetery around 4,000 years old. Three large stone burial cairns, each ringed by standing stones, are aligned with the midwinter sunset. It is a peaceful, slightly eerie spot that often has few visitors, though fans of Outlander come looking for a familiar split stone. Combine it with the battlefield in one outing.

  3. Fort George

    Landmark

    The ramparts of Fort George and the Moray Firth
    Photo: Iain Lees, CC BY-SA 2.0

    Built after Culloden to make sure the Highlands never rose again, Fort George is one of the mightiest artillery fortifications in Europe. It occupies a spit of land thrusting into the Moray Firth and has never been attacked, so it survives almost exactly as designed. It is still a working army barracks. Walk the mile of ramparts for sea views, and watch the water: dolphins are often seen from the walls.

  4. Cawdor Castle

    Landmark

    A fairy-tale tower house near Nairn, with a drawbridge, turrets and beautiful walled gardens. Shakespeare made Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor, though the real king lived centuries before the castle was built. It remains a family home, which gives the rooms a lived-in warmth, and the labels are unusually funny. In the vaults you can see the ancient tree around which, legend says, the tower was raised. The castle opens in the warmer months only.

Wild places and whisky

  1. Chanonry Point

    Wildlife

    The lighthouse at Chanonry Point on the Black Isle
    Photo: Vcarceler, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A narrow shingle spit on the Black Isle, north of Inverness, reaching out into the Moray Firth beside a lighthouse. It is one of the best places in Britain to watch wild bottlenose dolphins from the shore. They come in close to chase salmon through the fast-running channel, sometimes just metres from the beach. Sightings are never guaranteed, but patience is often rewarded, especially in summer.

    Tip: Aim to be there on a rising tide, roughly an hour or so after low water, when the dolphins tend to feed.

  2. The Cairngorms

    Nature

    Loch an Eilein in the Cairngorms National Park
    Photo: GC85, CC BY-SA 4.0

    South of Inverness rises the largest national park in Britain: a high granite plateau surrounded by ancient Caledonian pine forest, lochs and heather moor. Aviemore, on the main road and railway, is the gateway. Walk or cycle round Loch an Eilein with its island castle, look for red squirrels in Rothiemurchus forest, or head up towards the ski area for big mountain views. In winter there is snow sport; all year there is space.

  3. Glen Affric

    Nature

    Often described as the most beautiful glen in Scotland, Glen Affric lies west of Loch Ness beyond the village of Cannich. A single-track road winds past lochs and waterfalls through one of the largest surviving remnants of native Caledonian pinewood. Waymarked trails lead to viewpoints and around Loch Affric. In autumn the birches turn gold against the dark pines, and it is breathtaking. Bring midge repellent in summer.

  4. Speyside whisky

    Food

    East of Inverness, the valley of the River Spey holds the greatest concentration of malt whisky distilleries in Scotland. Famous names cluster around towns such as Dufftown, Aberlour and Rothes, and many welcome visitors for tours and tastings. You will see the copper stills, breathe in the warehouses and learn why no two malts taste alike. Book tours ahead, and choose a designated driver or join an organised trip.

Where to stay in Inverness

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Inverness →

Getting around

The city itself is easily walked. Beyond it, a hire car gives you by far the most freedom, as the best places are spread out and rural buses are infrequent. Without one, organised day tours cover Loch Ness, Culloden and Speyside, and trains run to Aviemore. Many Highland roads are single track: use the passing places and let faster traffic by.

When to go

May to September brings the longest days, with daylight lasting late into the evening around midsummer. Summer is also the busiest season and the time for midges, the tiny biting insects of the west. Spring and autumn are quieter and often beautiful. Winter days are short and some attractions close, but the mountains are at their most dramatic. Expect changeable weather at any time.

Questions about visiting Inverness

What is Inverness best known for?
It is the capital of the Scottish Highlands and the gateway to Loch Ness. It is also close to Culloden Battlefield and the start and finish of the North Coast 500 driving route.
Is Inverness worth visiting?
Yes, above all as a base. The city is pleasant and compact, and within an hour or so you have Loch Ness, Culloden, the Moray Firth dolphins, Speyside distilleries and the Cairngorms.
How many days do you need in Inverness?
Three days is a good minimum: one for the city and Culloden, one for Loch Ness and one for the Cairngorms, the Black Isle or Speyside. Stay longer if you plan to tour further north or west.
What is there to do in Inverness with kids?
A boat trip on Loch Ness to look for the monster, exploring Urquhart Castle and Fort George, dolphin watching at Chanonry Point and outdoor activities around Aviemore in the Cairngorms.
Do you need a car in Inverness?
Not for the city, but it helps a great deal for everything around it. If you would prefer not to drive, day tours from Inverness reach the main sights.

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